Artistic Japan. Posts from This Journal by “Japanese painting” Tag

With this article, I begin a series of articles on the history of Japanese fine arts. These posts will focus mainly on painting starting from the Heian period, and this article is an introduction and describes the development of art until the 8th century.

Jōmon period
Japanese culture has very ancient roots - the earliest finds date back to the 10th millennium BC. e. but officially the beginning of the Jomon period is considered to be 4500 BC. e. About this period nekokit wrote a very good post.
The uniqueness of Jemon ceramics is that usually the appearance of ceramics, along with the development of agriculture, indicates the onset of the Neolithic era. However, even in the Mesolithic era, several thousand years before the advent of agriculture, Jomon hunter-gatherers created pottery of a rather complex shape.

Despite the very early appearance of pottery, the people of the Jomon era developed technology very slowly and remained at the level of the Stone Age.

During the Middle Jōmon period (2500-1500 BC), ceramic figurines appeared. But in both the Middle and Late (1000-300 BC) periods they remain abstract and highly stylized.

From Ebisuda, Tajiri-cho, Miyagi.H. 36.0.
Jomon Period, 1000-400B.C.
Tokyo National Museum

By the way, ufologists believe that these are images of aliens. In these figurines they see spacesuits, goggles and oxygen masks on their faces, and the images of spirals on the "spacesuits" are considered maps of galaxies.

Yayoi period
Yayoi is a short period in Japanese history, lasting from 300 BC to 300 AD, in which the most dramatic cultural changes in Japanese society took place. During this period, the tribes that came from the mainland and displaced indigenous people Japanese islands, brought their culture and new technologies such as rice cultivation and bronze processing. Again, most of the art and technology of the Yayoi period was imported from Korea and China.

Kofun period
Between 300 and 500 years, tribal leaders were buried in mounds called "Kofun". This period is called by this name.

Things that the dead might need were placed in the graves. These are food, tools and weapons, jewelry, pottery, mirrors and the most interesting - clay figurines called "haniwa".

From Kokai, Oizumi-machi, Gunma.H.68.5.
Kofun Period, 6th century.
Tokyo National Museum

The exact purpose of the figurines remains unknown, but they are found in all the burial grounds of the Kofun era. From these small figurines one can imagine how people lived at that time, as people are depicted with tools and weapons, and sometimes next to houses.

These sculptures, being influenced by Chinese traditions, have independent elements inherent only in local art.

Female dancer, Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 9), 2nd century B.C.
China
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

During the Kofun period, the figurines become more refined and more and more different. These are images of soldiers, hunters, singers, dancers, and so on.

From Nohara, Konan-machi, Saitama. Present H. 64.2, 57.3.
Kofun Period, 6th century.
Tokyo National Museum

There is another feature of these sculptures. Haniwa represent not only social function but also the mood of the figure. A warrior, for example, has a stern expression on his face. and on the faces of the peasants huge smiles.

From Iizuka-cho, Ota-shi, Gunma.H. 130.5.
Kofun Period, 6th century.
Tokyo National Museum

Asuka period
Since the Yayoi period, Japanese visual arts have been inseparable from Korean or Chinese art. This becomes most noticeable in the seventh and eighth centuries, when Japanese art began to rapidly develop into a variety of visual genres.

In the 6th century, cardinal changes took place in Japanese society: the first Japanese state of Yamato finally took shape, and also, in 552, Buddhism came to Japan, bringing with it Buddhist sculpture and the concept of a temple, which caused the appearance of temples in Japan - as Shinto, as well as Buddhist.
Shinto shrines followed the architecture of granaries (The earliest Shinto shrines were granaries where harvest celebrations were held. During ritual feasts, people believed that the gods were feasting with them.)
Shinto gods - first and foremost natural forces so that the architecture of these shrines is integrated with nature, such as rivers and forests. This is important to understand. In Shinto architecture, man-made structures were meant to be extensions of the natural world.

The first Buddhist temple, Shitennoji, was only built in 593 in Osaka. These early temples were imitations of Korean Buddhist temples, consisting of a central pagoda surrounded by three buildings and a covered corridor.

The spread of Buddhism promoted contacts between Japan and Korea with China and integration Chinese culture into Japanese.

Hello, dear readers seekers of knowledge and truth!

Today we invite you to touch the beauty and talk about the art of Ancient Japan. In the article below, we will briefly review the stages of history that influenced the formation of Japanese art, and then dwell on each of its components in more detail. You will learn about the features of not only traditional types, such as architecture, painting, but also about the art of combat, miniatures, theater, parks and much more.

So, the article promises to be interesting, and most importantly - informative!

Historical periods

The Land of the Rising Sun has a unique culture, embodied in traditional original buildings and temples, paintings, sculptures, decorations, gardens, literary works. IN recent centuries such non-trivial areas as woodcuts, poetry, origami, bonsai, ikebana and even manga and anime are gaining popularity. They all formed for a long time, rooted in antiquity.

Very little was known about this time until the beginning of the last century, because Japan was a rather closed country to the rest of the world. However, numerous studies have been carried out since then, the archaeological excavations of which finds are amazing. They show that already in the second millennium BC there was a cultural Japanese society, and primitive tribes lived on the islands 15-12 thousand years ago.

Japanese culture began to take shape around the 4th millennium BC, but reached its peak in the Middle Ages - in the period from the 6th to the 18th centuries.

Ancient Japanese history begins with prehistoric times and ends with the Heian stage in the 8th-9th centuries, although many researchers attribute more late periods. In this regard, three major stages are distinguished, which, in turn, are divided into smaller periods, or jidai. Each of them is characterized by the appearance of new products, structures, styles.

1. Primitive communal system

The primitive society in Japan existed in the Neolithic era, when the first stone tools appeared, as well as during the Jomon and Yayoi period. It is believed that the Jōmon lasted from the 10th millennium to the 4th century BC. Then the first ceramics began to appear, which had the same name as the whole era - jomon.

Jōmon earthenware vessel

These vessels were asymmetrical in shape and had traditional ornaments in the form of a twisted rope. It is believed that they were used in various rituals and rituals. At the same time, various kinds of jewelry appeared - earrings, bracelets and necklaces made of clay, animal teeth, shells, rocks, crystal.

Clay earrings and bracelets from the Jomon period

In the III century BC, the Yayoi era began, which lasted six centuries. Then locals learned how to grow rice crops agriculture, continued to master the art of ceramics, and also began to melt metals, among which the most important was iron, made weapons from copper and bells from bronze.

Dotaku bronze bell, end of the Yayoi era

• The formation of the state. Japanese statehood began to take shape from the 4th to the 8th centuries. This period is known as the Kofun and Yamato periods. Then a whole network of burial mounds appeared in the country, and Japan itself began to move closer to the Celestial Empire, inevitably adopting religion - and with it - architecture, sculpture. The most important building of the era is Horyu-ji, represented by a pagoda in five tiers. Special sculptures made of clay, called “khaniva”, began to be installed near the mounds.

Horyu-ji, Japan

• Establishment of laws. This stage falls on the periods of Nara (VIII century) and Heian (late VIII-XII centuries). At that moment, the Japanese become even closer to their neighbors - the Chinese and Koreans, along with the Buddhist concept, they also borrow Confucian and Taoist concepts, adopt metal processing techniques, construction methods and building design, new trends in painting. Architecture is especially changing - simple Shinto shrines are being replaced by tiered Buddhist stupas similar to Indian ones. In dwellings ordinary people instead of bare earth, planks of wood appeared on the floor, and roofs of cypress appeared on top.

Depiction of the Nara period in Japan

If we talk about a later time, then we can distinguish several more periods and their main cultural features:

• Karakum (XII-XIV century) - the appearance of samurai and martial arts;
• Sengoku and Jidai (XV-XVI centuries) - the time of European expansion into the world of the East, during which Christianity and Western cultural trends penetrated even into the Land of the Rising Sun;
• Edo (XVII-XIX centuries) - the power of the famous Tokugawa family, characterized by the isolation of Japan and the development of cultural identity.

Everything that happened later is already New time and modernity, and now, undoubtedly, even in relatively closed Japan, there is a certain cultural globalization- the experience of Western masters is adopted, and in the West, in turn, Japanese motifs become fashionable. However, the art of Japan has always had a special flavor, had features that are unique to it.

Simplicity, proportionality with man, conciseness, natural materials, unity with nature - this is how you can characterize Japanese masterpieces, both ancient and modern.

Painting

Japan, as you know, stood apart for a long time, its borders were closed to other countries. When, with the advent of the 7th century, the Japanese began to communicate more and more often with their neighbors, to establish ties with the continental world, they discovered paints, parchment, ink, and with them, fine arts.

At first, it was extremely simple and concise: simple images were made on black or white paper, usually one of three colors - yellow, green or red. However, gradually the skill of local painters grew, and largely due to the spread of the teachings of the Buddha, as more and more pictures were created from the life of the Teacher and his students.

Pictures with Buddhist themes in ancient japan

By the 9th century, Japan had already formed its own branch of painting, which was independent of the Chinese. At the same time, the role of Buddhism began to weaken, and religious motives were replaced by the so-called secular, that is, secular, which were especially popular during the reign of the Tokugawa family.

Shoguns of the Tokugawa dynasty

Kaiga, as the Japanese called painting, took on completely different forms and styles, and nature took an important place in it. Since then, painting has manifested itself in new forms:

• Yamato-e - main school painters. It arose in the 9th-10th centuries and was supported by the Academy of Arts under the emperor. The works were rolled scrolls, which depicted literary plots coupled with skillful calligraphy. There were two main types of scrolls: emakimono - many meters long, folded horizontally and often viewed on the table, and kakimono - folded vertically and hung on the wall. Usually, silk or paper was brightly painted in the yamato-e style, but later ceramic dishes, national clothes, fans, walls, and screens were increasingly used as canvas. Particular attention was paid to conveying the state of mind.
• Sumi-e - as an independent style was formed around the XIV century. Its features are the use of watercolor and black and white colors.
• Portraits - became popular in the XIII-XIV centuries.
• Landscape - achieved popularity in the XIV-XV centuries, largely due to the spread of Zen Buddhism throughout the country, which is based on the idea of ​​contemplation and unity with nature.
• Ukiyo-e is a characteristic bright painting on the boards. She appeared in XVII century and contained images of nature, famous Japanese geisha or Kabuki theater artists. A century later, this trend became so popular that it even won the hearts of Europeans - they began to apply this style in their own works.

Traditional Ukiyo-e print

architectural direction

Initially, Japanese architecture was limited to the construction of ancient traditional houses- haniwa. They were created before the 4th century, and their appearance can only be judged by the surviving miniature clay models and drawings, since they have not survived to this day.

Here passed the life and life of ordinary people. These were original dugouts, covered from above with a straw canopy. It was supported by special wooden frames.

Later, takayuka appeared - an analogue of granaries. They also consisted of special support beams, which made it possible to save the crop from natural disasters and pests.

At about the same time, in the I-III centuries, temples began to appear ancient religion Shinto in honor of the deities patronizing the forces of nature. They were most often built from untreated and unpainted cypress, and had a laconic rectangular shape.

The thatched or pine roof was gable, and the structures themselves were built on pillars surrounded by pavilions. Another characteristic feature of Shinto shrines is the U-shaped gate in front of the entrance.

In Shinto, there is a law of renewal: every twenty years, the temple was destroyed, and almost exactly the same, but new, was built in the same place.

The most famous such temple is called Ise. It was first built at the beginning of the 1st millennium and, according to tradition, was constantly rebuilt. Ise consists of two similar complexes located slightly apart from each other: the first is dedicated to the powers of the sun, the second is dedicated to the deity of fertility.

Since the 6th century, the Buddhist teachings that came from China and Korea began to spread in the Land of the Rising Sun, and with it the principles of building Buddhist temples. At first they represented Chinese copies, but later a special, truly Japanese style began to be traced in temple architecture.

The structures were built asymmetrically, as if merging with nature. Conciseness and clarity of forms, a wooden frame, coupled with a stone foundation, pagodas in several tiers, not too bright colors - this is what distinguishes the sanctuaries of that time.

Many of them have survived to this day. Monuments of architecture include Horyu-ji from the beginning of the 7th century with its famous Golden Temple and 40 other buildings, Todai-ji from the middle of the 8th century in the city of Nara, which is still considered the largest wooden structure on the planet. At the same time, Buddhist architecture is closely intertwined with sculpture and painting, which depict deities and motifs from the life of the Teacher.

Todai-ji Temple

At the turn of the 12th-13th centuries, feudalism began in the state, and therefore the Shinden style, which is distinguished by splendor, became popular. It was replaced by the sein style, at the head of which is simplicity and some intimacy: instead of walls there are almost weightless screens, on the floor there are mats and tatami.

At the same time, palaces-temples of local feudal lords began to appear. Masterpieces of this type of structure are the famous 14th-century Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, as well as the 15th-century Ginkaku-ji, also known as the Silver Temple.

Ginkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)

Together with palaces-temples in the XIV-XV centuries, landscape gardening art began to emerge. In many ways, its appearance is due to the penetration of the contemplative teachings of Zen into Japan. Gardens began to appear around temples and large dwellings, where the main components were not only plants, flowers, but also stones, water, as well as sand and pebble mounds, symbolizing the water element.

The unique city of Kyoto is famous all over the world.

Another type of garden is a tea garden, which is called “tyaniva”. It surrounds the tea house, where a special, leisurely ceremony is held, and a special path runs through the entire garden to the house. Having appeared in the Middle Ages, pulling is found everywhere today.

Sculptural direction

Sculpture in ancient Japan is mostly associated with religious and ritual traditions. Also in III-V centuries people learned how to make small figures called dogu.

Dogu depicted people, animals, and given that they were found in mounds, we can conclude that they were put in the grave along with the dead - these were their servants who could be useful in the next world. Dogu were clay, bronze, wooden, lacquer figures. Later, larger statues of deities were also created near mounds and Shinto shrines.

dogu figurine

The arrival of Buddhism in the country, of course, affected the local sculpture. Numerous monuments to Buddha began to appear in the 6th-7th centuries. Following the Chinese and Korean masters, local sculptors began their journey.

By the 9th century, the sculptural direction began to develop even more, but changed appearance buddhas and - they began to have several, up to a thousand, faces and hands. Most often they were made of strong wood species, varnish, bronze, clay.

Many beautiful monuments have survived to this day. For example, in the temple of Haryu-ji, a majestic figure of Buddha sits on a lotus flower, and in Todai-ji there is a whole ensemble of deities headed by a 16-meter Buddha, which was created by sculptors Kaikei and Unkei.

Other types

Japanese art is multifaceted and you can talk about it for hours. Let's talk about several other types of art that originated in antiquity.

• Calligraphy

It is called sedo, which means "the road of notifications." Calligraphy in Japan appeared thanks to the beautiful hieroglyphs that were borrowed from the Chinese. In many modern schools it is considered a compulsory subject.

• haiku or haiku

Haiku is a special Japanese lyric poetry that appeared in the 14th century. The poet is called "haijin".

• Origami

This name translates as "paper that has been folded." Coming from the Middle Kingdom, origami was first used in rituals and was an occupation for the nobility, but in Lately spread throughout the world.

ancient art origami in japan

• Ikebana

The word in translation means "living flowers". Like origami, it was originally used in rituals.

• Miniatures

The two most common types of miniatures are bonsai and netsuke. Bonsai are copies of real trees in a greatly reduced form. Netsuke are small figurines like talisman charms that appeared in the 18th-19th centuries.

• Martial arts

They are primarily associated with samurai - a kind of chivalry, ninja - assassins-mercenaries, bushido - warriors.

• Theatrical art

The most famous theater, the pride of all Japanese - classical theater Kabuki. You can read more about theatrical art in Japan.

Kabuki theater in Japan

Conclusion

As we can see from the article, Japan is a whole treasury of masterpieces of art, not only on a national, but also on a global scale. Since ancient times, which begin long before our era, the Japanese began to create and create beautiful things around: paintings, buildings, statues, poems, parks, miniatures - and this is not the whole list.

Interestingly, the features embedded in Japanese culture of antiquity, can be traced in the creations of our time - this is simplicity, conciseness, naturalness, the desire for harmony with nature.

Thank you very much for your attention, dear readers! We hope that today you have learned a lot about such a mysterious and distant country as Japan. Join us - leave comments, share links to articles with friends - we will be very happy to explore mysterious world East with you!

See you soon!

Japan is a very interesting state, known for a wide variety of traditions and customs. Geographical position The country of the Rising Sun made it somewhat isolated from other states, thanks to which it developed without regard to European countries. The culture of Japan is extremely rich and diverse. Peculiar Japanese traditions were formed under the influence of historically important events. Gradually, Japan turned into a powerful, cohesive state with character traits and a certain mentality of the population.

Main aspects of Japanese culture

The culture of the country is manifested in many spheres of society. In Japan, its aspects are;

The process of drinking tea for the Japanese is not a simple satisfaction of the physiological needs of the body, but a real cult. The tea ceremony in Japan is accompanied by special attributes and contains a lot of traditions. Such a reverent attitude, it would seem, to the everyday process took its development from the meditation of Buddhist monks. It was they who brought so much significance to the process of tea drinking.

For Europeans, the concept of "kimono" characterizes the national clothes of Japan. However, within the country rising sun There are two meanings of this word - in the narrow and broad senses. The word "kimono" in Japan refers not only to the national costume, but also to all clothing in general. Under the kimono, as a rule, a special robe and seven belts are worn. A kimono worn in summer is called a yukata. Depending on the age of the woman, the model of attire may also vary.

In Japan, two religious movements are successfully preached at once - Shintoism and Buddhism. Shintoism appeared in ancient Japan, it is based on the worship of various creatures. Buddhism, in turn, is divided into several varieties. In Japan, there are many schools promoting one or another trend of Buddhism.

Rock gardens are of particular importance in the culture of Japan. They are not only an architectural creation that attracts the attention of tourists, but also a place spiritual growth. Here the Japanese find enlightenment from the contemplation of stone structures located in a special order. The rock gardens include a specific plan, which only an enlightened person can unravel.

Tango no sekku is a celebration in honor of the boys. It is dedicated not just to all small male representatives, but also to the masculinity and strength of the entire Japanese people. It is customary to celebrate the holiday in spring, when nature wakes up and pleases with its beauty. On the day of tango no sekku, the boys are taken care of by their parents. The father must tell his son about all the Japanese warriors and their exploits. And his mother sets the table for him with delicious food.

Cherry blossom is considered the most beautiful natural phenomenon. Many tourists come here just to enjoy the contemplation of a flowering plant. In the spring, a large crowd of people can be observed in the parks of Japan. Many families go on picnics and watch the beauty of the Japanese cherry tree.

Bows can be attributed to the peculiar traditions of the country. They represent the rules of good manners. It is not customary for the Japanese to say goodbye, instead they bow as many times as the interlocutor did.

Samurai represent a certain class of society that has developed under the influence of traditions and customs. It has a direct connection with the culture of the country. Samurai are warriors who carry out a certain service, which can be both military, security or household. In any of these cases, samurai personify the courage, masculinity and nobility of the Japanese people.

The process of formation of the culture of ancient Japan

The culture of ancient Japan began to develop with the birth of the Japanese language and writing. The land of the rising sun borrowed the basis for this from China. Japanese writing also contains hieroglyphs, which a foreign citizen will not be able to understand. After a while in Japanese new words, sounds and phrases began to be added. So he completely transformed, however common features with China are still traceable.

The religiosity of the country also originates from ancient ages. Shintoism was a consequence of the development of various mythologies. On this moment this teaching promotes the cult of leaders and dead people. Buddhism, on the other hand, has such deep roots that the opinions of scientists and historians about the emergence of this type of religion vary greatly.

Japanese art

Almost all art forms practiced in Japan carry one main idea- calmness and relaxation. It is precisely the harmony of a person with himself that contains art, regardless of the way information is presented. Many art forms known all over the world began their development in Japan. Among them, origami can be distinguished - the ability to fold various shapes from paper.

Another popular part Japanese art became ikebana. This is a skill to form bouquets of flowers using a special technology. From here came an equally popular activity, which is called bonsai. This is the creation of a variety of compositions from dwarf trees. In Omiya, not far from Tokyo, there is a whole Bonsai park. Each dwarf tree presented here is unique and beautiful in its own way.

The painting of Japan will deserve special significance, since each painting carries hidden meaning. As a design, as a rule, bright colors, contrasting transitions and clear lines are used. Japan also has the art of calligraphy. This is the skill of aesthetically beautiful writing of hieroglyphs. Widespread in Japan and applied art. There is a whole museum in Tokyo dedicated to this craft. Here you can see products made of paper, glass or metal. And this is not a complete list of materials used for this purpose.

The Japanese style of interior design also deserves special attention. It includes functionality and simplicity, along with originality of performance. In addition, interior design carries a religious philosophy, like any other form of Japanese art.

Japanese architecture

Architectural structures in Japan, in one way or another, are associated with religion. Temple buildings at first, most often, were devoid of any flowers. This was due to the use of unpainted wood in construction. Later they began to use red and blue shades.

The main material for architectural buildings in Japan is considered to be wood. This is due to the fact that the stock this resource large enough in the country. In addition to the fact that the tree conducts heat well and absorbs moisture, it is also practical during earthquakes, which occur quite often in Japan. If a stone house is very difficult to recreate after destruction, then a wooden one is much easier.

The main feature in the architecture of Japan is the presence of even geometric shapes. Most often, these are triangles and rectangles. It is almost impossible to meet smoothness and roundness of lines in any structure. Main principle, based on which the Japanese equip their homes - the inseparable existence of the inside of the house and the outside. This applies to Japanese gardens. They should be decorated in exactly the same style as the house itself. Otherwise, it is considered bad taste and complete bad taste. The Japanese pay special attention to their gardens.

Japanese music

In respect of musical development Japan looked back at other countries, using any musical instruments. But later she modernized them under the influence of local tastes and traditions. The first influence on the formation of classical music in Japan was the local Dengaku folklore, mixed with foreign influences and giving rise to the music that is currently familiar to Japan.

The religious side of the issue also contributed to the musical origin. Thanks to Christianity, organ playing began to spread. And Buddhism promoted playing the flute.

On currently Classical music gained popularity in Japan. Many members of this cell of creativity travel outside of Japan. These include Goto Midori, Ozawa Seiji and Uchida Mitsuko. Relatively recently, halls designed for comfortable listening to classical music were opened in Japan. These include Kiyo Hall, Osaka Symphony Hall, Orchard, etc.

Household traditions of Japan

The Japanese are a well-mannered people, observing their traditions and customs. Respect for yourself and others in Japan is considered the norm. From childhood, children are taught the norms of good manners, explain to them the basic values ​​of the Japanese people, and enlighten them in every possible way. And it's all for the benefit of society. Any tourist who comes to the Land of the Rising Sun from another country is surprised at how friendly, friendly and well-mannered the Japanese are.

Unlike European countries Japan has long banned smoking in public places. This also applies to private property. Smoking near other people is allowed only if they have given their consent.

Among other things, the Japanese strictly observe all the rules of hygiene that society dictates to them. For example, in any room, including religious buildings, there are special straw rugs. You can’t walk on them in shoes, they are considered not only an interior decoration, but also a real sacrilege. Also, the Japanese decided to protect themselves from possible bacteria that they bring from the toilet on their feet. In any public place and in apartments there are special slippers for the toilet, which do not allow the transfer of harmful germs to other rooms.

Eating for the Japanese is not considered a process of life, but a real cult. Before eating, the Japanese always wipe their hands with a special towel soaked in water, which is called oshibori. Table setting does not occur randomly, but according to a special scheme. Even each device has its own place. The Japanese divide them into male and female, and this is very important for them. Spoons in Japan are used only for eating o-zoni soup, which is cooked on New Year, the rest of the first courses, the Japanese prefer to drink exclusively from special bowls. Moreover, smacking your lips during a meal is not considered bad form. It is believed that in this way the taste of the dish is better revealed.

The relevance of good form in Japan is proved by the presence of the following rules:

• It is necessary to discuss the place and time of the meeting in advance. Being late in Japan is considered impudent and beyond the bounds of decency.
• You can not interrupt the interlocutor, you need to patiently wait for the person to speak out, then begin to express his opinion.
• If you call the wrong number, you need to apologize.
• If someone came to your aid, then you definitely need to thank him.
• Some guests of the Japanese can be considered honorary. For them, they even allocate a special place at the table, which, as a rule, is the most extreme from the entrance to the room.
• When giving a gift to the Japanese, one should apologize for being humble despite what it is. Those are the rules, you shouldn't break them.
• Sitting at the dinner table, men can cross their legs, while women are strictly forbidden to do this. Legs should be tucked in and pointed in one direction.

Also, the traditions in the life of Japan include the veneration of people older in age. It doesn’t matter what a person’s profession, earnings, appearance or character traits are, if he is older, then he must be treated with respect. Old age in Japan inspires respect and pride. This means that the person has come a long way and now he deserves honors.

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Good afternoon, dear readers! I continue the selection of feature films about Japan that I recommend to watch. Films, like books, allow you to get to know the lifestyle, mentality and culture of the inhabitants of the country of the rising sun.

Japan feature films:

1. Emperor, a joint film between Japan and the United States, released in 2012, genre - military history, directed by Pitter Webber. The film shows the events that took place in Japan after the Second World War, when American troops arrived in Japan to restore order, arrest war criminals and determine the future course of Japan's development. The view of the situation is shown through the eyes of an American general who loved a Japanese girl before the war. He needed to determine the degree of guilt of Emperor Hirohito of Japan in unleashing the war.

The film is interesting from a historical point of view, as it shows the real events of that time. And Japan is presented not only as an aggressor country, but also as an affected country - cities are completely destroyed and burned, hundreds of thousands of people were burned in the explosion of atomic bombs.

2. Shinsengumi, the year the film was made 1969, made in Japan, directed by Tadashi Sawashima.

The film shows last years the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate. When a small detachment was formed from a group of free samurai (ronin) to protect the last shogun of the Tokugawa clan, the so-called detachment of the self-proclaimed police. This military detachment of desperate and brave samurai was led by Kondo Isami, a peasant by birth. The detachment was famous for its unsurpassed military dexterity in hand-to-hand combat and for the ideas of the victory of the shogunate over imperial power.

On the same topic, you can find documentary, which restores the events of that time and gives an objective assessment of the actions of the Shinsengumi detachment and its commander Kondo Isami. The film is based on historical events And Feature Film practically does not change the essence of the documentary.

3.Hidden blade, made in Japan, released in 2004, directed by Yoji Yamada. The genre of the film is drama, melodrama. The film takes place in mid-nineteenth century in the small principality of Unasaku on the northwest coast of Japan. During this period, great changes take place in the country, the samurai are reorganized in a western way and master firearms and new ways of waging war. A conflict begins between the old way of life and everything new that is rapidly capturing the life of the Japanese.

Against the background of the relationship between a man and a woman, the image of a samurai is unobtrusively shown, which consists in strict observance of the rules of honor, in dignity and honesty. After watching this film, you once again come to the conclusion that the stereotype that samurai is a militant class is wrong. In the words of the hero of the film, "for a samurai, killing a person is as hard as anyone else."

4. My rainy days, production Japan 2009, drama genre. The film shows the life of schoolgirls doing enjo-kasai. Everything changes when main character meets a young man, a history teacher. This romantic movie tells about the development of relations between them. Very sweet and touching movie.

5.Love on a special level- production Japan, film director Naoto Kumazawa, year of release 2014, melodrama genre.

It all starts in high school, Kururuki Yuni is a high school student, smart, she has high marks in all disciplines except for English. She is purposeful and smart, hides all emotions deep in herself and therefore is very lonely.

A young English teacher, Sakurai, assigns Yuni's daily classes. What made him do it? The desire to teach Kukuruki the language or the desire to take the girl out of her shell. But whatever it is, extra classes English language led to a result that no one expected. The film is cute, all the actions are leisurely with a minimum set of words and a play of feelings, handsome actors, calm musical accompaniment. Designed for a teenage female audience. May seem a little tight.

6. I want to hug you- production Japan, film director Akihiko Shioto, year of release 2014.

sad and Touching story The relationship between the young man Masami and the girl Tsukasa is based on real events. The film takes place on the island of Hokkaido. One day, a group of young basketball players arrive at the gym, which was reserved at the same time by a group of disabled people. This event made it possible to meet the taxi driver Masami, who school bench played basketball, with Tsukasa, who became disabled as a result of a car accident.

Tsukasa doesn't like being treated like an invalid. Having survived the severe consequences of the accident and gradually returned to life, she became strong. Masami, in turn, is a kind and gentle person. Their relationship was not understood by the parents on both sides, but despite this, the young people continued to meet. Realizing that the relationship of young people sincere parents also fell in love with Tsukasa. There was a wonderful wedding of a handsome young man and a girl in a wheelchair, but life has its own way ...

Japanese painting is one of the most beautiful in the world.

Japanese painting is one of the most ancient and amazing types of creativity. Like any other, it has its own long history, which can be divided into several periods according to techniques and features. Common to all periods is nature, which was given the main place in the paintings. Second most popular in fine arts Japan is home to everyday scenes from life.

Yamato

Yamato(VI-VII centuries) - the first period of Japanese art, which laid the foundation for writing. The impetus for the development of art was given by China's achievements in the fields of religion and writing. Japan rushed to rise to his level, making changes in its structure and building everything in the likeness of China. For the development of painting, a huge number of works by Chinese masters were brought to Japan, which inspired the Japanese, who boldly rushed to create similar paintings.

Painting in Takamatsuzuka Tomb

This period consists of two child periods:

• Kofun- the period of Japanese art, occupying the first half of Yamato. The name of the period is translated as "the period of barrows". In those days, indeed, mounds were given a big role, creating them everywhere.
• Asuka- the second part of the Yamato era. The period was named after the political center of the country that was active in those years. It is associated with the arrival of Buddhism in Japan, and in the future with the active development of all cultural areas.

Nara

Buddhism, which came from China, was actively spreading in Japan, which contributed to the emergence of religious themes in art. Japanese artists, carried away by this topic, painted the walls of temples, which were created by influential personalities. To date, the Horyu-ji temple has preserved wall paintings from that time.

Azuchi-Momoyama

This period is the exact opposite of its predecessor. Gloom and monochrome disappear from the works, being replaced by bright colors and the use of gold and silver in the paintings.

Cypress. Screen. Kano Eitoku.

Meiji

In the 19th century, the division began Japanese painting into traditional and European styles, which were vigorously competing with each other. During this period, tremendous political changes broke out in Japan. The influence of Europe in those years affected almost every corner of the planet, introducing its own features into each state. European style art was actively supported by the authorities, rejecting the old traditions. But soon the excitement around Western painting quickly subsided and interest in traditional art returned abruptly.

Development of Japanese painting updated: September 15, 2017 by: Valentine